The Firing Line Forums

Go Back   The Firing Line Forums > Hogan's Alley > Handguns: The Semi-automatic Forum

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old March 12, 2019, 08:54 PM   #26
JERRYS.
Senior Member
 
Join Date: September 23, 2013
Location: Alabama
Posts: 2,968
Quote:
Originally Posted by TunnelRat View Post
One thing I have to give Alabamans credit for is at least you guys can take a joke .

In all seriousness though it's a good pistol that can absolutely be carried with the right holster, like most all pistols. Buddy of mine carried one for years in a Galco OWB, only just recently switching to a P228. In a few decades I'm convinced he might even own a handgun with polymer .
well, in all fairness I'm not from Alabama, I just live here because the wheels fell off my home.
JERRYS. is offline  
Old March 12, 2019, 10:06 PM   #27
lamarw
Senior Member
 
Join Date: April 12, 2010
Location: Lake Martin, AL
Posts: 3,311
well, in all fairness I'm not from Alabama, I just live here because the wheels fell off my home.

Oh my goodness, then you will have to pay property tax. Better reattach those wheels.
lamarw is offline  
Old March 12, 2019, 11:56 PM   #28
bamaranger
Senior Member
 
Join Date: October 9, 2009
Location: North Alabama
Posts: 8,262
P220

When the Park Service went from revolvers to semi-autos, late in the game I might add, SIG was much in favor at the federal level and many US agencies were carrying them. SIG was selected for the NPS by default in a sort of way. The agencies selection process was so lengthy that funds were evaporating, and at the last minute, despite everyone's belief it would be .40 Glocks, we got SIGS. The story went that DEA had a bunch of overruns and we got the SIGS at a price, and I wouldn't doubt it. Initial transition pistol was the P228,and shortly thereafter, a supposed one time career choice of P228, 226, 229/.40, or P220. Note at the time that .40 was ONLY available in the machined slide P229. I chose the P220. I carried, trained and competed with (private purchase) theirs or mine for the next 20 yrs.

The P220 was a good duty pistol, reliable in the extreme, and spooky accurate. My only reliability issues cropped up with some original, heavily used 7rd mags late in my career. The MecGar stainless 8rd units that later shipped with the guns and are standard now, gave great service from their introduction forward, and are still running well in my personal P220. The P220 is a big gun, even a proper holster on my big self, makes concealed carry a challenge. I found it at it's best in a duty rig or carried openly dressed down for court or admin purposes.

Aside from the vintage 7rd mag issues described, the gun functioned well with good 7rd German mags, or the MecGar 8rd versions, feeding all manner of bullet shapes. I shot FMJ ball, truncated ball, and a variety of 230 gr JHP as issued over the years with absolutely no issues. I also shot a lot of 230 lead RN and truncated FN from my own personal purchase gun in IDPA without a hiccup.

I'll add that not only were my issue and personal purchase P220's accurate and reliable, but the 8-10 P220's under my care as armorer ran just fine as well.
bamaranger is online now  
Old March 13, 2019, 12:04 AM   #29
bac1023
Senior Member
 
Join Date: February 2, 2008
Posts: 1,068
I like the P220, but only in 9mm.
bac1023 is offline  
Old March 15, 2019, 12:10 PM   #30
mbott
Senior Member
 
Join Date: October 9, 1999
Location: Westerville, Ohio
Posts: 640
Does Sig still make the P220 Carry? .45ACP in a P229 size.

Just looked at the Sig website and it appears that they don't. Shame, as mine is a favorite carry gun.


--
Mike
__________________
NRA Benefactor Life Member
NRA Certified Basic Pistol, Basic Rifle and Personal Protection Instructor
Law Enforcement Sales, Retired
mbott is offline  
Old March 15, 2019, 12:33 PM   #31
dgludwig
Senior Member
 
Join Date: February 12, 2005
Location: North central Ohio
Posts: 7,486
Quote:
It's a big gun with low capacity, but oh so accurate.
If ammunition capacity concern is an issue, the otherwise identical Model 227 carries a couple of extra rounds. I occasionally carry mine concealed comfortably in a Galco "King Tuk", iwb holster.
__________________
ONLY AN ARMED PEOPLE CAN BE TRULY FREE ; ONLY AN UNARMED PEOPLE CAN EVER BE ENSLAVED
...Aristotle
NRA Benefactor Life Member
dgludwig is offline  
Old March 15, 2019, 12:40 PM   #32
dgludwig
Senior Member
 
Join Date: February 12, 2005
Location: North central Ohio
Posts: 7,486
Quote:
Does Sig still make the P220 Carry? .45ACP in a P229 size.

Just looked at the Sig website and it appears that they don't. Shame, as mine is a favorite carry gun.
Because I intended to carry the Model 220 concealed, I insisted on getting the "Carry" version the first time around. What I learned is that the only slightly shorter Carry variant made no practical difference whatsoever for me as compared to the less than an inch longer standard Model 220 when being carried concealed. I suppose some might find the shorter Carry model worthwhile; I didn't.
__________________
ONLY AN ARMED PEOPLE CAN BE TRULY FREE ; ONLY AN UNARMED PEOPLE CAN EVER BE ENSLAVED
...Aristotle
NRA Benefactor Life Member
dgludwig is offline  
Old March 18, 2019, 07:46 AM   #33
agtman
Junior member
 
Join Date: July 26, 2001
Location: midwest
Posts: 2,374
A Sig P220 chambered in Best-meter can't be beat.

Powerful and accurate.

Best-meter = 10mm.
agtman is offline  
Old March 19, 2019, 12:09 PM   #34
44 AMP
Staff
 
Join Date: March 11, 2006
Location: Upper US
Posts: 28,616
for me, in a P220, the "best"-meter = 11.25mm
IF I want more, I'll go to a bigger, heavier gun.
__________________
All else being equal (and it almost never is) bigger bullets tend to work better.
44 AMP is offline  
Old March 19, 2019, 01:06 PM   #35
penak
Junior Member
 
Join Date: March 5, 2019
Posts: 4
Tagged, this seems like a very interesting thread
penak is offline  
Old March 20, 2019, 05:42 PM   #36
chemcal
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 16, 2014
Posts: 281
for me, in a P220, the "best"-meter = 11.25mm
IF I want more, I'll go to a bigger, heavier gun.

Hey--when did they start producing a .44? I want one.
chemcal is offline  
Old March 20, 2019, 06:01 PM   #37
JERRYS.
Senior Member
 
Join Date: September 23, 2013
Location: Alabama
Posts: 2,968
Quote:
Originally Posted by chemcal View Post
for me, in a P220, the "best"-meter = 11.25mm
IF I want more, I'll go to a bigger, heavier gun.

Hey--when did they start producing a .44? I want one.
trying to do math in your head again? LOL
JERRYS. is offline  
Old March 20, 2019, 09:30 PM   #38
chemcal
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 16, 2014
Posts: 281
11.25mm/25.4mm = .4429; .45 = 11.43
chemcal is offline  
Old March 20, 2019, 09:44 PM   #39
JERRYS.
Senior Member
 
Join Date: September 23, 2013
Location: Alabama
Posts: 2,968
Quote:
Originally Posted by chemcal View Post
11.25mm/25.4mm = .4429; .45 = 11.43
my apologies. I always thought the conversion was a constant 4.

4 x 7.65mm = .306 cal.
JERRYS. is offline  
Old March 20, 2019, 11:24 PM   #40
44 AMP
Staff
 
Join Date: March 11, 2006
Location: Upper US
Posts: 28,616
sorry the math doesn't always work out, usually because they use bore when we use groove, or vice versa, or sometimes, just...because...it's a name, not the actual diameter..

11.25x23mm = .45ACP
__________________
All else being equal (and it almost never is) bigger bullets tend to work better.
44 AMP is offline  
Old March 20, 2019, 11:50 PM   #41
chemcal
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 16, 2014
Posts: 281
it's actually a division rather than a multiplication; I do understand "caliber" does not seem to have a specific conversion, but where does the 23 come from?
chemcal is offline  
Old March 21, 2019, 11:27 AM   #42
44 AMP
Staff
 
Join Date: March 11, 2006
Location: Upper US
Posts: 28,616
Quote:
but where does the 23 come from?
its the case length in mm (approximate)

Standard metric naming practice is caliber x case length in mm. Rimmed cases are designated with the letter "R" at the end.

9x19mm = 9mm Luger aka 9mm Parabellum, aka 9mm NATO..etc
9x17mm = .380ACP

7.62x39mm = .30 Russian short (AK and SKS round)

7.62x54R = Rimmed Russian round .30 used in Moisin Nagant and several other guns

7.62x51 = 7.62 NATO aka .308 Winchester

7.62x63 = .30-06

7.92x57 = 8mm Mauser

7x57 = 7mm Mauser
There are exceptions, but usually the "x" followed by a number is the case length (NOT the loaded round) and is spoken as "by" when said out loud. Example "7 by 57" for 7x57... 9 by 19, etc.
__________________
All else being equal (and it almost never is) bigger bullets tend to work better.
44 AMP is offline  
Old March 23, 2019, 10:03 PM   #43
223 shooter
Senior Member
 
Join Date: October 26, 2008
Posts: 557
In the mid 1990s I traded for a brand new German P220 and at the time it was the most accurate out of the box centerfire semi-auto I had ever owned. Since then the only out of box centerfire semi-auto that might beat it is my SA 1911 Range Officer.

With the relatively light for its size and high bore axis the P220 muzzle flip with the 45 was more noticeable than with 1911s I've owned. But still very manageable and not unpleasant in the least.

The plastic grips did not fit me well so I went to Hogue rubber. Improved but the grip really never fit me as well as other 45s I own.

I traded it several years later. At times I still wish I had it. Local shop had a used one in the case for quite a while now - really tempting to check it out next time I'm in there.
223 shooter is offline  
Old March 23, 2019, 11:05 PM   #44
4V50 Gary
Staff
 
Join Date: November 2, 1998
Location: Colorado
Posts: 21,823
I carried a Sig P220 in 45 ACP starting about 1991 or 1992. Being southpaw, I liked the lack of a manually operated safety and could easily manipulate the decocker with my forefinger. The magazine release was switched but I found it easier to use the index finger to release the magazine.

On the first night of the King Riots, I heard that there was someone running around with molotov cocktails two blocks from me. At that point and at the first chance I had I removed the two spare magazines from my locker and carried them in my pocket (so I have five total). After the Riot I acquired a new mag pouch that would accommodate all four spares or forty-one rounds of 45 ACP goodness.

Great old gonne and very accurate. In one class we had to fire one shot for accuracy and I outshot an instructor at TSJC who had tuned his 1911.

In the old days Sig would sell its 8 round magazine follower to upgrade your seven round magazine to eight. They also would sell floorplate with rubber bumper pads. Nowadays they won't sell parts to rebuild a magazine anymore. I learned all this this past Monday when I tried to order a new (internal) extractor for an old Sig. Could not buy anything from Sig. No magazine parts, no extractor (which they want installed by their custom shop for $105).

Now as for CCW, it depends on how big you are or how loose your clothes are. Are you in a place where a vest will conceal it or do you need to wear a loose jacket? What clothing is acceptable in your area that helps you to remain the grey man?
__________________
Vigilantibus et non dormientibus jura subveniunt. Molon Labe!
4V50 Gary is offline  
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 09:17 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
This site and contents, including all posts, Copyright © 1998-2021 S.W.A.T. Magazine
Copyright Complaints: Please direct DMCA Takedown Notices to the registered agent: thefiringline.com
Page generated in 0.08577 seconds with 10 queries